Quick Check: What’s Stealing Your Focus?
Written by Dave Navarro on April 11, 2008
We all have a tendency to search out the answer to that magical question: “What do I have to do to get more of ______? We like to think that there’s a miracle answer around the corner, that if we just do more of X, we’ll have more of Y. And that’s actually true, to a point. You do more exercise, you lose more weight. You increase your income, you increase your cashflow. Doing more of X is an easy way to get more of the Y that you want.
But there’s a dark side to that, the one that’s not as seductive, because it requires facing up to a few ugly truths.
You Don’t Keep Your Boat Above Water By Bailing Faster
If you have holes in your boat, what’s the solution? It ain’t bailing faster. It’s plugging the freakin’ holes.
“Holes” are the things that cost you, that drag you down, that slow or reverse your hopes of progress. Plug those holes and you don’t have to do more of X to get more of Y - it’ll just happen.
- Eat less crap and you automatically turn the tide come weigh-in time.
- Stop wasting so much money and your cashflow “magically” improves.
- Etc. Etc. ETC.
Plug The Holes In Your Focus And Stop Taking On Distractions
You want to get more done? I’m with you. I’m on your side. For the next few days, keep a piece of paper/notebook/Crackberry at the ready and just jot down what’s derailing your focus each time it happens. Do this for a calendar week and you’ll have a map of all the holes in your boat.
Then start getting to work on plugging them, one by one.
You get more done, automatically, without working harder.
Yes, it is just that easy. But only if you do it. Most people will chicken out, take the path of least resistance, look for something that will give them the magic answer. Fine, you can buy my time management system - but be warned, the first chapter will tell you the same damn thing.
Get something convenient to take notes with.
Take notes for a week and track yourself.
Take action on one thing at a time.
You know what I love? You take common sense and shake us by the shoulders. I never thought about this, and I read it and said, “Shit. Why didn’t I think of that?”
Don’t bail faster. Plug the leaks. Duh, James.
The parallel is that in my case, I’m the leak-plugger for boats. People outsource to us for great content, but also so that they don’t have to bail faster.
That doesn’t mean the boat-plugger has to end up bailing faster. I’m going to think about my leaks this week. Good one.
James,
Glad you liked. Shoulder shakin’ and a$$-kicking is what I love to do most.
We’ve all got something to improve. This post opened my own eyes to a few holes I need to plug as well … I better get to it!
some good advice, I need to start pluggin those holes real quick, some good pointers here to help me sort things out.
Garry -
Glad you liked it. Don’t let the day pass you by without taking some action on it!
I think you saved my sanity yesterday. I had so much crazy noise in my head — behind on deadlines, sick kids, missing 1099 from psycho client and on and on — and then I read your post and started making “The Hole” list (only I called it the “hell list”). All day, whenever the noise would start, I’d jot down the loudest thing and gradually, the noise subsided.
I have an actionable list now instead of the chaos of stress and distraction. I’ve already crossed off three things and silenced them forever.
So simple, so beautiful. Thanks again!
Cara -
EXCELLENT. So glad to see it helped - any time people take action, it makes a difference.
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